Deaconess Community,

For the last eight months I have had the pleasure of supporting the thoughtful and intensive work of the Deaconess Foundation Executive Search Committee during our national search for a permanent chief executive. The search is now completed, and I extend heartfelt gratitude to our community partners, peer funders, Deaconess staff team and board members who participated in the search process.

On Thursday, July 22, we had the great honor of announcing Bethany Johnson-Javois, MSW, as the incoming president and chief executive officer of Deaconess Foundation. After a rigorous national search, Bethany was unanimously selected to lead the Foundation’s mission. As a former Deaconess Foundation trustee, Bethany is a trusted member of the Deaconess community and has an abiding devotion to the Foundation’s mission.

Bethany is currently Chief Executive Officer of St. Louis Integrated Health Network (IHN) and will join Deaconess in her new role in October. No stranger to the region or Deaconess, Bethany is a native of University City was a member of the Deaconess Foundation Board of Trustees from 2011 to 2018, serving on both the Grants & Program and Policy & Advocacy Committees. During her service, she was instrumental in guiding the Foundation’s commitment to community capacity building and providing citizens with the resources needed to shift public policy and change systems to advance child well-being in St. Louis. She also served as co-chair of the Deaconess’ Community Advisory Board during her tenure; her efforts in this role helped to amplify the voices of affected communities which then informed the Foundation’s approach to promoting child well-being as a priority for the St. Louis region.

Currently, as CEO of IHN, the nonprofit network comprising all founding Federally Qualified Health Centers, major health care systems, public health departments, and academic medical institutions in the St. Louis region, Bethany leads the charge to improve quality, access, and affordability of healthcare for the medically underserved. She has managed the network’s $4 million budget, developed staff, and created initiatives in collaboration with partners to reach more than 200,000 patients, including Black mothers and justice-involved young adults.

I look forward to warmly welcoming Bethany back home to Deaconess in the Fall, and I am excited to share news of our announcement:

Bethany Johnson-Javois Brings Passion for Advocacy, Service to Deaconess Foundation, St. Louis Public Radio
Bethany Johnson-Javois Selected as Next President & CEO of Deaconess Foundation, The St. Louis American
Deaconess Foundation appoints new CEO and president, St. Louis Business Journal

In service to our children,

Cheryl D.S. Walker
Interim President and CEO
Deaconess Foundation

To read the rest of our July eNewsletter, click here.